Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

—Time: 2:45 —

—Region: Kanto—

—Pov: Ash—

A desolate landscape in front of his eyes, the dead bodies of his Alolan friends, of Professor Kukui, why did everyone always get hurt when he comes near? whywhywhywhywhy

…

It seemed he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight… again. And wasn’t that a surprise.

Professor Oak seemed to have an errand for him in the morning…maybe he should just visit his Pokemon in the Center.

“Pika?” He knew he was worrying his best friend (not that anyone accepted that) with his recurring nightmares and lack of sleep…

“I’m okay buddie… let’s get ready for the day and go for a walk until we can go see Prof. Oak.” He hoped the task wouldn’t be too difficult, and that it wouldn’t take too long.

Gosh he was tired

—Time: 7:30—

—Region: Kanto—

—Pov: No ones—

“Ash! My boy, thank you for coming today. I was hoping you could come with me to a new region for a reunion between Professors.”

Ash in fact did not want to go. He was starting to hate going on journeys. It always ended the same way. With a Team getting in the way, causing a disaster and lots of people hurt or dead.

“Professor… you know that I have stopped adventuring. I don’t feel like going.”

The Professor looked a bit disappointed but seemed to shake it off.

“Truly a shame. I was hoping you could explain what exactly happened in Alola during the Ultra Beast breakout to Professor Sand, the Professor of said region.”

The Ultra Beast breakout was broadcasted across the world. Known to be a possible disaster in other regions, most Champions were working with Professor Kukui on making sure no damage was done.

“Why me? Why not Professor Kukui?” Oak seemed to consider something before answering.

“Well… let’s just say I have had a hunch that perhaps, you should visit Driew at least once, before calling it quits.”

Driew? That name seemed familiar… where had he heard it before?

“Fine… I will join you… but only for a couple days, then I’m coming back.”

—Time: 16:50—

—Local: Sea border of Driew—

—Pov: Ash—

Why did the name of the region sound so familiar? Where had he heard it before?

…

He was way too tired for this. There was still another hour of travel to go, maybe he should try to get some sleep…

Where was he? Is this… the other dimension? Why was he dreaming of this again? Why couldn’t he just rest?

“Ash! You wanna hear a story? This one is good, I swear”

He remembered agreeing to it

“The Legend goes like this. 

Across the Great Sea. 

Beyond the fog.

There is a Region that hasn’t been overtaken by the Ultra Beasts.

Where people live happily and safe

Where there are no threats.

There where the sun sets 

Is Driew of the outcasts.”

Ashs’ eyes flare open, panting slightly.

What was that?! That dream was a memory of his time on the other Dimension… why did the Region have the name of the Legend?

There is a knocking at the door as Professor Oak calls

“Ash? Are you awake? We are almost there”

Ash groans and runs a hand through his hair, swinging his legs off the bed as Pikachu hops up to his shoulder with a concerned “Chu” noise

He gives Pikachu a head rub as he stands up, “Just a dream buddy,” he says as he walks out of the room, closing the door behind him. 

As he emerges onto the deck, a sunset greets him warmly. The rays of sunlight remind him of the rainbow he saw so long ago at the start of his first journey. Back when things were so much simpler. before all the legendary encounters, before all the evil teams, before the Ultra Beasts . Back when all he worried about was becoming the very best

Chapter Text

As Ash steps upon the dock of Driew, he notices several things. First, the dock seemed more built for dealing with cargo haulers than handling the large cruise liners he had been upon in the past like St Anne. And second, the very energy of the place seemed different than all the other regions he had visited.

Johto had an energy of tradition, the energy of the region feeling calm and composed, set in its ways.

Hoenn had felt wild, constantly changing and becoming something new with each battle of Groudon and Kyogre.

Sinnoh had an air of ancient history, feeling like every stone and tree held history, fitting for the region where Arceus originated.

Unova had a constant energy, full of hustle and bustle, dynamic and ridged, due to the influence of truth and ideals. constantly moving like its residents.

Kalos had felt tense, which upon retrospection, made a lot of sense. Filling the energy wind up more and more the closer and closer he got to the tournament, and what happened afterward.

Alola was a welcome respite after Kalos, feeling calm and relaxed, as Pokemon and humans lived together, at least until the Ultra Beasts appeared and their energy seemed to taint everything for him.

But Driew? Driew felt different, it felt welcoming like he was finally coming home, which, that couldn’t be, right? He was just going to be visiting for a few days as he explained the dangers of the Ultra Beasts to the Professor, and besides, his home was in Kanto.

As they reached the port, Ash saw a teenager waving at the boat.
“Professor Oak! Over here!” the teenager, now identified as a girl called. She seemed pretty energetic and had a camera around her shoulders.

“Grace! Is that you? My child, it’s been quite some time since I saw you! You are practically a woman now!” Professor Oak exclaimed, obviously happy to see this Grace

“It’s great to see you too, Professor. Now what was that? We heard rumors of the Ultra Pests invading another Region?”

What did the girl mean by another Region? From what he knew the Ultra Beasts were a new threat. And why did she call them Pests? The threat they posed was a legit one!

“Whatever, you can talk with Professor Sand about it. Right now we need to go to a celebration!” She interrupts herself
“And what would that be exactly?” Professor Oak asks curiously
Ash personally was hoping it was just a small thing… he couldn’t wait to get back home.
“Oh! It will be a… Oh my!” She exclaims

A small, brown animal was currently walking near the water towards the group, eating a berry. Grace walked towards the animal and picked it up gently, and then brings it over, the creature still munching on the berry

“Professor Oak, Assistant Satoshi. Meet Driew’s laziest Legendary! Capycalm!”
That thing, which had the color of mud, and was calmly munching on a berry in the arms of their Guide, was a Legendary.
It didn’t look like one. ~~All Legendary Pokemon were so mighty and powerful and destructive and deadly, oh so deadly and destructive, ruining his life and others again, and again and-~~
-Grace shoved the mon in his arms, and almost as if on cue, he felt… better? Ash stares baffled at the Pokemon in his arms. He’s grown unfortunately used to his flashbacks, so to have one cut off so suddenly was… disconcerting and surprising, though not unwelcome

“Passive ability of Capy, Placate! You looked like you were going to have a PTSD attack, so I had to use it.”
So the fact that he was calm was because of the mons ability? That was pretty interesting…
“Back to your question.” She continues, “We are going to an Evolution Ceremony. To watch Pokemon Evolve or not.”
Satoshi already knew what would come next. Why don’t you evolve your Pikachu? See everyone else does it.

“Oh my! That sounds interesting!”

“There will be food, berries, drinks, and music! Professor Sand will be meeting us there, after all, he is the host of the celebration!”

“That does sound like him,” Professor Oak comments “He hasn't created any international incidents since the one with Team Rocket 4 years ago, did he?”

“Why would you ask that Professor?! We are saints you know!” She asks aghast, before breaking out in a smile and laughing alongside Professor Oak
“Well, we need to get going. Professor, I trust that you brought a transportation mon with you. What about you, Satoshi?”
“I didn’t bring any… Also, how do you know my name?”
“Oak sent a letter telling us that he would bring an assistant called Satoshi ‘Ash’ Ketchum. So I was pretty sure it was you.”
“Oh…”

Grace seemed to be considering something. Then her face lit up as if she just had an idea.
“Alright! Satoshi, you come with me on Bode! Professor, you can go on your own! However, since our dear assistant doesn’t have a transportation mon, we need to get him a little welcome gift!”

Out of nowhere the Gogoat started sprinting like a rocket, hell he was sure it was almost flying. They rocketed across many streets, one with the statue of a Goodra and a woman watering the plants, only to stop at the outskirts of the city. Where a herd of Skiddos were frocking around.

“You! Go stand right there!” Grace ordered, pointing at the middle of the herd of Skiddos

“What are you talking about?” Ash asked in confusion. Thinking that it was by far one of the weirdest first days in a new region
“is is a welcome gift! Go stand right in the middle of the herd and one of the Skiddos might choose you as their trainer!”

Was this a regional thing? Like, it was pretty cool that they let the Pokemon choose their trainers but still. He was a newcomer, shouldn’t they first show him the Professor?!

Skeptical, but trusting her as Professor Oak knew her, he walked towards the middle and stood there. In a couple of minutes, a very determined-looking Skiddo approached him and started nudging him in the leg.

“Huh? Oh! Hello there!”
Ash squats down to pet the persistent Skiddo. The fur on the Skiddos head is soft, it reminds him of his time in Kalos, before the countdown to the end of the world.

“Bah!”
The Skiddo, seemingly sensing his distress, began to rub up against his leg, trying to offer him some comfort.

“Huh… thanks, buddy.”
The Skiddo looked at him. And then started to push him towards where a bunch of saddles were.

“Well, I guess your welcome gift already chose you. Ya just need to catch him now.” Grace comments from the fence.

That was strange, really strange. In the other regions the trainer chooses which mons they would capture, but it seemed that things were different here, a good different he would say.

“We are already running late! Take care of things quickly!”
“Coming!”
Perhaps this new region wouldn’t be all that bad.